Related Stories

As for Christmas, we were musing to friends the other day that this will be the first one without Andy Williams in about half a century.

We’ll miss him.

Williams, who died in September at 84, arguably had the most pleasant voice of the crooner era, and maybe ever. But, as The Washington Post’s Jen Chaney notes, “When some hear the name Andy Williams, the first thing they immediately think is: Christmas.”

Few American traditions are as timeless as those surrounding the Yuletide, and Williams’ iconic renditions of carols such as It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year – as well as his Christmas specials starting in the 1960s and his long-running live show in Branson, Mo. – led many to call him “Mr. Christmas.”

It’s true. No other American entertainer has put his or her stamp on the holiday season quite like Andy Williams did. Two of his children are even named “Noelle” and “Christian.”

Branson’s “Moon River Theater” will still produce Andy Williams Christmas shows. It’s just that now, he will appear only on screen.

His voice, though, so identified with the most wonderful time of the year, will live on.

ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here and for
following agreed-upon rules of civility. Posts and
comments do not reflect the views of this site. Posts and comments are
automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some
comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules,
click the "Flag as offensive" link below the comment.

Last Christmas I sat at the edge of a runway at a base in Afghanistan watching the helicopters come and go while Andy Williams sang about the most wonderful time of the year on the radio. It was such a disconnect and yet so reassuring at the same time. Thank you, Mr. Williams.